CFMEU members gathered at Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD ahead of a major demonstration in front of Parliament House.
Red, green and black union flags fluttered above hi-vis clad protesters in the morning wind as chants of “union power” erupted.
Members of the Maritime Union of Australia joined CFMEU members to protest in Sydney’s CBD.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
A strong, heavily armed police presence was evident both inside parliament and on Macquarie Street.
State MPs who were briefed on the protest said police appeared nervous about the rally.
CFMEU member Peter, who declined to provide his surname, said the federal government’s push to place the union into administration would reduce safety and pay on work sites.
Asked about his view on the Breaking Bad series of stories, which outlined allegations of impropriety, Peter replied: “There’s corruption in everything”.
Much of what was going on was “above his head”, he said.
CFMEU members headed north up Macquarie Street, chanting, “hands off our union”, and, “union power”. Traffic on the usually humming CBD street has been blocked off.
“What do we do when we’re under attack?” one union leader with a megaphone asked.
“Hands up, fight back,” union members responded.
Protesters marched to NSW Parliament. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
A loud cheer rose up as Maritime Union of Australia marchers met CFMEU marchers at the top of Macquarie Street.
Men in hi-vis gear were streaming into the crowd from all sides, with flags representing the Plumbers Union also in the throng.
A NSW Police officer monitoring the protest estimated the protest size at easily in the thousands.
“They keep spilling out of everywhere,” he said.
The CFMEU protest settled out the front of Parliament House.
The raucous cheers of union members applauded “the mighty Darren Greenfield”.
With a pumped fist and wearing a black CFMEU T-shirt, Greenfield, secretary of the NSW branch, took aim at the “rotten Labor party”.
The cry prompted a wave of chants saying, “f— Albo”.
A defiant Greenfield declared: “I’m not going anywhere”.
He called on union members to “vote the bastards out” at the upcoming state and federal elections.
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